Liverpool score six in nine-goal Christmas classic at Tottenham

Liverpool moved four points clear at the top of the Premier League heading into Christmas after both Luis Diaz and Mohamed Salah scored twice in a devastating 6-3 statement win at Tottenham on Super Sunday.

First-half goals from Diaz (23), Alexis Mac Allister (36) and Dominik Szoboszlai (45+1) put the Reds in full control, despite James Maddison (41) reducing the arrears.

Salah then took centre stage, set up both times by Szoboszlai for close-range finishes (54, 61), to put the game seemingly beyond doubt with half an hour still to play.

Dejan Kulusevski (72) and Dominic Solanke (83) responded to threaten the monster of all comebacks, but Diaz raced onto Salah’s pass to complete a memorable victory for Arne Slot’s side (85).

A tennis score at Tottenham means it’s advantage Liverpool in the title race.

How Liverpool cemented Christmas No 1

It is the first time since 2020-21 Liverpool have sat top of the tree on December 25. They have only won the title in one of the last seven top-flight campaigns in which they’ve been top at Christmas – but the signs this year under Slot are ominous.

At the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, they ticked off another tough away assignment. They were confirmed as Christmas No 1 before kick-off following Chelsea’s goalless draw at Everton earlier on Sunday.

After Diaz’s strike in the corresponding fixture last season was infamously ruled out for offside, the Colombian would not be denied the opener this time by any VAR controversy.

Nothing but a good process from the moment Trent Alexander-Arnold opened his body and laid the ball on a plate for Diaz to head back across Fraser Forster into the far corner.

Sky Sports’ Gary Neville said on commentary: “The cross is something else! It is absolutely perfect. There are very few players in Premier League history with that level of accuracy. De Bruyne, Beckham and Gerrard maybe.”

It meant Spurs had conceded the opening goal in 14 different home games in the Premier League in 2024 – the joint-most ever by a team within a calendar year in the competition.

Szoboszlai competed for the ball from Andrew Robertson’s cross with it falling kindly for Mac Allister to direct his header in from close range for his first goal of the season.

The Argentine gambled to double his side’s lead, but a burglary is never too far away when it comes to Mac Allister and Christmas. Referee Sam Barrott wouldn’t come to his aid when Kulusevski dispossessed him for Maddison’s well-placed shot to breathe hope into the hosts.

It would prove short-lived as, in keeping with Spurs’ disregard for game state this season, they duly conceded a third before the break as Salah slipped in Szoboszlai for a composed finish.

The Hungarian would repay the favour for Salah – twice – after the restart only for Spurs to atone for those two concessions with two more goals of their own. Solanke’s vision for Kulusevski’s volley was sublime, and when the striker swept in Brennan Johnson’s header back across goal, you just wondered what this Tottenham team were capable of doing next.

Diaz would ultimately add the final word having had the first, firing across Forster to end the madness. Twenty-one goals in Tottenham’s last three games. Are you not entertained? But only one of these sides is on course to win the title in May.

Postecoglou: We won’t change our approach

Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou:

“It was a difficult day for us and a painful result. Credit to Liverpool, they’re a very good side, very settled. It was a bridge too far for us today. You could tell we lacked a bit of energy and the ability to compete with them at the same level.

“I’ve been really patient the last 18 months answering the same questions. We won’t change our approach. I get the idea that people think that I should just flip the switch and it will miraculously make us a different team.

I will just stay focussed in building this team in the way we want and we have to accept that their will be challenges along the way.

“The players are not wavering in their commitment to what we’re trying to do. I’m not happy with where we are [in the table]. I’m not sure about pressure.

“I feel I am being judged, and all I can do is try to navigate us through a difficult period and ty to make sure that when we have a healthier squad and some key players back, that we can improve our position in the table. If you’re saying that 10th means I’m not doing a good job and that I should feel uncomfortable, that is for others to judge.”

Slot: If it was easy to win the league, every team would do it

Liverpool boss Arne Slot:

“The first 50-55 minutes is what you want, apart from the goal we conceded – 3-1 up and then it ended up being 5-1. We thought it was enough but Tottenham have far too much quality and they’re able to create and score.

“In the games they’ve lost here against the bigger teams, they’ve been in the game. It was a really good performance from us apart from the 20 minutes we decided not to run anymore. That 15 minutes is maybe useful for us. It didn’t hurt us today but in other moments, it’s good.

“Against every team there’s an opportunity. If they go for man for man, which they did for the first goal, then it needs one player to outplay the other and then you have an extra man.

“They have a very good idea about football. If you give them too much space then they will hurt you. I like what Ange does. He is at a club where they don’t win that much in the last 15 to 20 years.”

On being top of the league: “It tells you we are a very good team. Still three games to go until halfway but if you go here and play the game we did then it shows we are a hard team to beat. If it was easy to win the league then every team would do it.”

Story of the match in stats…

Goals galore at Tottenham – Opta stats

• This will be the 21st time Liverpool have been top of the English top-flight on Christmas Day; the most of any side. They’ve gone on to win the title in 11 of those previous 20 seasons (55%).
• Nine goals is the joint-most that have been scored in a league fixture between Tottenham and Liverpool, along with a 7-2 win for Spurs in April 1963 and a 7-2 win for the Reds in October 1914.
• Tottenham’s Premier League matches under Ange Postecoglou have seen an average of 3.6 goals scored per game (both teams combined). Among those to take charge of 50+ games in the competition, this is the highest goals per game rate for any manager.
• Tottenham have conceded the opening goal in 14 different home games in the Premier League in 2024; the joint-most ever by a team within a calendar year in the competition (also Crystal Palace in 2017, Ipswich and Spurs in 1994).

What’s coming up in the Premier League?